Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) breaks away from Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Will Witherspoon (92) during the second quarter of an NFL football game at LP Field Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, in Nashville. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Brett Coomer

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) breaks away from...

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Houston Texans tight end Joel Dreessen (85) is tripped up by Oakland Raiders defensive back DeMarcus Van Dyke (23) after a catch during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Brett Coomer

Houston Texans tight end Joel Dreessen (85) is tripped up by...

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This is a 2011 photo of Owen Daniels of the Houston Texans NFL football team. This image reflects the Houston Texans active roster as of Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Opponents have always been conscious of Daniels, the Texans' gifted tight end. But with All-Pro wide receiver Johnson sidelined for the last three games following a minor procedure on his right hamstring, extra attention has been focused upon Daniels, and he's not sure how to feel about it.

Other than, of course, wishing Johnson a speedy recovery.

"Clearly, we want him back, and I want to see him out there," Daniels said Tuesday. "But it's fun. You want the respect of defenses and your peers in the league. You want those challenges every week, and it makes you better. It makes you want to run precise routes.

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Nevertheless, Daniels and Joel Dreessen have thrived at their position, which has become a glamour spot in Gary Kubiak's offense. Of quarterback Matt Schaub's 137 completions, 37 - highlighted by Daniels' team-high 27 receptions - have gone to tight ends. That's 27 percent, and the highest it's been in the previous three season was 22, which the team accomplished in 2010 and 2008.

In the Texans' 41-7 rout of Tennessee on Sunday, Daniels hauled in four balls for 71 yards, including a 34-yard reception that was his longest of the season. In the process, he extended his streak of games with a catch to 60.

"We found some ways to get him in space and get him some mismatches," Schaub said. "They were doing a good job at certain points of doubling him. … He is a go-to guy for us.

"There were some occasions where we got one-on-one coverage, and we were able to take advantage of them."

Taking what's given

It was the same for Dreessen, who caught a pair of passes for 31 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown.

"It was one of those games where the ball found Owen and myself at times," Dreessen said.

In recent weeks, against Baltimore and Oakland, two teams with heavy pressure packages, the tight ends were more of an afterthought from a target perspective. Their presence in terms of pass protection was more vital, even in Johnson's absence.

But Kubiak on Monday said it's fluid.

"It all depends how we're getting played," Kubiak said. "Things can change. (Against the Titans) we made big plays with our tight ends. … Joel continues to play well. OD has played well all year long."

Running game is key

The key is the effectiveness of the running game. In losses to Baltimore and Oakland, Arian Foster was held well under 100 yards in each. But against the Titans, Foster andBen Tate each eclipsed the century mark - and the whole dynamic shifted.

"We were able to get (Daniels and Dreessen) both loose in the passing game a little bit," Kubiak said. "When they're making big plays, we're usually running the ball well because we're getting people up in the box and our boot game is working and those types of things.

"Most of the things we do throwing the ball come exactly off the same look that we may have just run a run off of."

Added Daniels: "Everything looks the same. When we're running the ball well, the linebackers and safeties are committing, and that makes it easier for us."